Guests were treated to a tour of the Harefield site plus a fully catered meal from award winning chef, Andy Waugh, and an inspirational speech from guest presenter Phil Bevan, designer and founder of Trident Cars, producer of the world’s fastest diesel car. Following a £1 million investment, Advance Fuels formally opened its redeveloped Harefield Oil Terminal at Uxbridge on 30th September. The terminal is now the second largest fuelling facility to the west of Greater London, with a storage capacity of over 1.3 million litres for road diesel, gas oil and kerosene, and represents one of the largest development projects commissioned by Certas Energy. Addressing an audience of local dignitaries, businessmen, customers, journalists and staff,  Alex Ward, regional manager for Advance Fuels said: “This is the conclusion of a complex redevelopment project, which has transformed the site into the modern facility we have here today. “With London and the south east having seen a sharp decline in fuel storage and supply over the past 10 years following the closure of Buncefield and Coryton, Certas Energy responded to customer demand and invested in Harefield to provide a much needed fuel source and security of supply for customers in the capital, Home Counties and the south east. “There are now 18 employees on site and we’ve also launched a sales apprentice scheme in conjunction with Sussex Downs College – the company’s first. This is proving beneficial, and I hope to extend the initiative further across my region,” added Alex.www.certasenergy.co.ukwww.tridentsportscars.com

Having worked with a traditional oil company, two supermarkets and a key fuels importer/blender, Simon Davis brings some 26 years of valuable oil industry experience to the MFG management team The Motor Fuel Group (MFG) has confirmed the appointment of Simon Davis as its new fuel operations director. Within the MFG management team, Simon will be responsible for the on-going business relationships with MFG’s fuel suppliers, all fuel operations and for the implementation of the company’s fuel pricing strategy at each MFG service station in order to optimise revenue and volumes across the MFG network. Jeremy Clarke, managing director of MFG said: “Simon has an excellent track record and he brings valuable experience which will help to strengthen our already strong fuels team. Success in this key area of our business is essential to the continued growth and profitability of MFG.” Starting with Kuwait Petroleum in 1989 where he held various business, planning and logistics positions over eight years, Simon then spent the next seven years with two leading supermarkets, Morrisons and Safeway, to successfully manage the development and growth of their filling station activities. For the past 10 years, Simon has been company director and head of sales and logistics for Harvest Energy with full responsibility for all UK downstream sales, marketing and logistics and the successful introduction of the Harvest Energy forecourt brand.www.motorfuelgroup.com

Patrick Henry, director of logistics at Modal Training which will deliver realistic training, replicating the working environment in a wide range of settings Road, rail, sea and air  – plans for the first integrated, multimodal logistics training have been unveiled for Immingham. The new £7million centre of excellence for the ports, energy and logistics sectors is on schedule for completion and full operation in September 2016.  Funded by the Grimsby Institute and the Humber LEP, it will be located in a 5,696 m2 fit for purpose designed facility on Kings Road in Immingham. Equipped with state-of-the-art simulators for training maritime crew, truck and crane drivers, Modal Training will deliver realistic training, replicating the working environment, in a wide range of settings.  Facilities will include extensive warehousing, engineering and rail safety teaching facilities, and the UK’s only Air Freight Forwarding Academy. “The Humber is already home to the UK’s largest, multi-purpose ports complex which, for decades, has supported a growing trade in coal, cars, food, freight, passengers and petroleum,” said Sam Whitaker, vice-principal for strategic projects at the Grimsby Institute and board member of Modal Training “Now the region is set to expand again, as it takes on a new role as the international logistics hub for the emerging renewables energy sector.” “We’re looking forward to working with the Modal team to ensure that the programmes being developed meet our needs exactly,” added Mike Sellers, ABP’s port manager for Grimsby and Immingham. “I urge other businesses to get in touch to discuss their own requirements. This is a unique opportunity to be involved in the creation of a centre of excellence for our sector.”www.modaltraining.co.uk/about/energy-estuary/location

In a 360° VR experience, Esso has captured Jensen Button driving a McLaren Formula 1™ car around Silverstone In late September Esso launched Synergy Fuels with a star-studded event at the iconic UnderGlobe venue in London.

Restalrig Road in Edinburgh is one of seven new JET sites added over the past couple of months The JET fuel brand has attracted seven new sites to its network during the past couple of months. The new sites have added a combined volume of more than 13 mlpa to the JET network. In Scotland, JET has welcomed Restalrig Road in Edinburgh and Inverinate Service Station in the Kyle of Lochalsh, with Inverinate now JET’s most westerly site in the UK. In North East England – already a strong territory for JET – Fylingdales Service Station near Whitby, Fencehouses Service Station in Houghton Le Spring and Foxcover Filling Station in Sunderland, which is owned by Gradebrook Filling Stations Ltd, have chosen JET as their fuel supplier. JET is also the supplier of choice for Haslingden Service Station near Rossendale in Lancashire and Wragby Road Filling Station in Lincoln, another site owned by the Gradebrook Filling Stations group. John Norton, owner of Fylingdales Service Station near Whitby, comments: “We’ve been incredibly impressed by JET since we joined the brand a couple of months ago. It’s the first time in years that I’ve felt like a valued customer, rather than just a number.” John continues: “I knew that JET had a strong reputation for customer service and reliability and I can now see why. They do what they say when they say they will – no messing around. They work to fit in with our schedules, rather than just delivering when it suits them. Reliability of deliveries was a major criteria for me when choosing a new supplier and I can certainly say JET doesn’t disappoint in this area.” “It’s testament to the strength of JET’s dealer offering that we’re continuing to attract new sites to our network,” said Carl Smaller, territory manager Immingham North & East. “Within a short a space of time, all seven new sites have been fully re-imaged in the latest JET branding and are already benefiting from our security of supply, competitive pricing and flexible dealer support packages.”www.jetlocal.co.uk

The BBC DIY SOS team on the project – the final product can be seen on October 14th and 21st on BBC1 from 8pm Four thousand litres of gas oil were donated by Certas Energy to fuel the equipment and machinery that was required to keep the BBC DIY SOS’s Veterans Village build project operational. The company worked alongside hundreds of Manchester building firms and tradesmen to develop a veterans’ community by bringing 25 empty homes back into use at Newton Heath in east Manchester. “We couldn’t have done this without the amazing support of all these trades,” said Nick Knowles, the BBC DIY SOS presenter. The enormous amount of help – in time, materials, labour and much more- is a tribute to our nation’s building industry.” During the first phase, which ended last month when Princes William and Harry visited the site and helped put in some of the finishing touches, saw eight of the street’s empty homes refurbished to create three larger adapted residential homes for veterans and their families, one standard size property and a veteran walk-in support and advice centre. “Certas Energy is committed to being a good corporate citizen,” said commercial manager Darren Holloway.   “This is just one way we can give back to the community in which we operate.  This project will provide quality homes for some very deserving individuals; it’s a pleasure for us to be able to do our bit to get these properties constructed and habitable.” Along with the BBC’s DIY SOS Big Build project team, the project brought together Manchester City Council, charities Walking With The Wounded and Haig Housing, and Adactus Housing Groups. Energy. As the project moves in to its second phase, any further support the construction industry can provide is welcome to assist the charity Haig Housing with the refurbishing of the remaining 17 empty properties. Follow the conversation on Twitter:  #DIYSOSVeterans

As diesel imports currently account for 45% of the UK’s needs – Greenergy is ‘ensuring a low-cost and secure supply for our customers now and into the future’ Diesel importer Greenergy has responded to a recently published report by the RAC Foundation which says that with diesel being sold twice as fast as petrol, the ‘UK will become increasingly reliant upon imported diesel’. “The RAC is right to point out that the UK is having to look further and further afield for the diesel we need,” said Greenergy chief executive Andrew Owens. “That’s precisely why Greenergy has been investing in modern import terminals at North Tees and Thames Oilport.  With their deep-water jetties, these investments will allow us to source more and more of our diesel direct from global producers, be they in the Middle East, Asia or the US, to ensure a low-cost and secure supply of diesel for our customers now and into the future.” The Readdressing the balance between petrol and diesel demand report was written by Nick Vandervell who has worked in the oil industry since the early 1980s. From 2004 to the end of 2013 Nick was UKPIA’s communications director where he was responsible for developing and implementing a communications strategy that encompassed government and media relations. He co-authored or authored major publications for UKPIA including Meeting our energy needs – the Future of UK Oil Refining and Fuelling the UK’s future – the role of our refining and downstream oil industry.www.greenergy.comwww.racfoundation.org/media-centre/diesel-drought-risk-demand-up-supply-down

With one of the first principles of quality management being customer focus; understanding customers and seeking to meet their requirements, Mabanaft carries out a regular customer survey. The survey helps to understand exactly what customers value, including just what drives their decision to use a particular fuel wholesaler. This year Mabanaft achieved a record response and is very pleased by the feedback received. The company has yet again out-performed previous survey ratings, with scores remaining consistently high, in particular on aspects of service that customers rate as being of most importance. “The feedback we receive helps us ensure that high standards are being met and maintained and that we continue to deliver on our customers’ requirements,” said Mabanaft’s marketing manager Martin Cook. “We also find that it opens up communications, allowing customers to suggest ways of further improving our services which can even help us to gain a competitive edge over our competition.” View results highlights here http://www.ie-marketing.co.uk/mabanaft/survey-infographic-2015.pdf and read the full report in the October issue of Fuel Oil News. For more information please contact the Mabanaft sales team on 0207 802 3300.  www.mabaLIVE.co.uk

The Humber refinery – Phillips 66 hopes to run similar events at its other terminals in the future In late August, 40 haulier drivers and scheduling staff attended a Drivers’ Day event run by Phillips 66 at the company’s Immingham Pipeline Centre (IPC). The aim of the event was to say thank you to all the drivers for their business, tell them about latest developments and also to ask for any suggestions on how the terminal could be improved. Invitations were extended to all retail, wholesale and specialty group customers that pull from IPC. The idea for the event originated from a best practice that Ryan Ebright, specialty & business development manager, brought over from America. “IPC is a key terminal for us and drivers play an important role in its success,” said Ryan.  “We wanted to recognise this by holding an event to thank them for their ongoing commitment.” A wide range of breakfast and lunch options were laid on from 5am through to 3pm by a team of staff from Phillips 66.  As well as enjoying a hearty breakfast or lunch before hitting the road, attending drivers received JET and Phillips branded 66 giveaways and were automatically entered into a prize draw to win one of five AA winter car kits.   www.phillips66.co.uk

Joanne Freeman (Brainwave), Sally Darlington (Essar Oil UK), Anthony La Mola (Brainwave) and Matthew James, with son Dylan, daughter Megan and wife Vicky A significant safety milestone at the Essar Oil Uk Stanlow refinery has resulted in a £3000 donation to the Brainwave charity’s north west centre in Warrington. Stanlow achieved five million hours without a lost time injury and through its Let’s Give programme, which links charitable giving to safety, made the contribution to Brainwave. Brainwave works with children with a range of conditions, including cerebral palsy, genetic conditions, Down’s syndrome, autism and developmental delay. Matthew James, Stanlow’s operations maintenance co-ordinator who nominated the charity said:  “After becoming frustrated and disappointed in the help available, having to constantly push and chase for services for our son Dylan, who has a severe global development delay, we stumbled upon Brainwave who were a breath of fresh air.  We have been with Brainwave for three years now and Dylan has gone from strength to strength.” Brainwave’s community fundraising manager Joanne Freeman was delighted to receive the funds from Essar, sending ‘a huge thanks to all the team.’www.essar.com

Brobot Petroleum, which operates 23 filling stations, has successfully appealed via the First Tier Tax Tribunal against HMRC’s imposition of unreasonable conditions to obtain an excise duty Deferment Account Number: Oil Products. The case was prepared and presented by Alan Powell for Alan Powell Associates Ltd, a specialist excise duties consultancy. “The case confirms that petrol retailers are entitled to defer excise duty on fuel delivered to them from bonded terminals with nil security,” explained Powell.  Furthermore – and the crux of this matter – HMRC must grant such approval where the need to defer duty on fuel is demonstrated by the retailer.” Powell explains that deferring the duty on fuel provides a number of significant benefits, which include (In this case):

Allan Davison operations director says Hoyer is pleased to award Goodyear this business – a company that has ‘built a reputation for improving the efficiency of fleets Hoyer has chosen Goodyear as its new tyre and service provider following a competitive pan-European bidding process. Following re-tendering their business to four premium manufacturers, Goodyear was selected after meeting Hoyer’s safety service and efficiency requirements. As a result the logistics provider will move away from its previous premium manufacturer, Michelin after 18 years. Hoyer will now fit its 400 units and 780 trailers in the UK as well as another 4,000 trucks and trailers across Europe with KMax, FuelMax and Goodyear retreaded products. “Goodyear has built a reputation for improving the efficiency of fleets and we are pleased to award them our business,” said Allan Davison, operations director of Hoyer Petrolog. “The nature of our operation sees us transport hazardous materials day-in-day-out, therefore we need a product that is safe and reliable while delivering efficiency savings. We found this, tried and tested, in Goodyear’s KMax tyre.” The Hoyer Group will also take advantage of Goodyear´s TruckForce tyre management programme, roadside assistance and FleetOnlineSolutions. Allan Davison continues: “TruckForce are experts in their field.  They catch issues, take preventative measures and solve problems to keep downtime to a minimum. The TruckForce infrastructure enables us to get the optimum performance and maximum  life out of our tyres. When you put this all together this package will increase our efficiency as well as reducing our carbon footprint.” Marc Preedy, Goodyear commercial director said: “This is another proud moment for Goodyear which continues the substantial growth we have seen in our business over the last 18 months. The new partnership with the Hoyer Group shows that our integrated package offers real tangible value to our customers.”www.goodyear.comwww.hoyer-group.com

Greenergy’s new intake of apprentices Four teenagers have taken their first steps into the world of work by securing apprenticeships at Greenergy on Teesside. “The young people we recruit today will be our future leaders, running our fuel terminals and manufacturing facilities in the years to come,” said Chris Platt, Greenergy North Tees terminal manager. “We employ more than 100 skilled workers on Teesside alone, so there is plenty of scope for young people to train with us to gain the experience they need to develop their careers. “As a company we take an active role in encouraging students to continue to study science, technology, engineering and maths because we know how important it is for our everyday operations. By encouraging the next generation of engineers we are building the foundation for a successful future both for the apprentices themselves and our operations.” This year’s apprentices have already completed a City and Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Process Operations. Over the next two years they will combine a Level 3 programme of study with hands-on experience, spending most of their time on-site putting theory into practice with their mentors and building the experience they need for their technical qualifications. Dave Thompson, partnerships manager at TTE Technical Training Group, said: “It’s great to have sponsors like Greenergy who understand the value and importance of apprenticeships. The potential for apprenticeships to lead not only to rewarding careers, but to exciting senior roles at fantastic companies, should never be overlooked when considering options post-16. Forward thinking businesses like Greenergy recognise this and help to create opportunities for young people.” Maddie Byrne from Redcar and Tom Wallace from Guisborough are now both apprentice process technicians and Tom Berry an apprentice mechanical fitter, all three are based at Greenergy’s biodiesel manufacturing plant at Seal Sands. This follows the successful completion of past apprenticeships resulting in permanent roles for Peter Lindley and Elliot Longmore, who are now part of the engineering team at the site.  In addition Cameron Walker from Stockton has started his process technician apprenticeship at the Greenergy North Tees Fuel Terminal, also at Seal Sands.www.greenergy.com